A GRAN who tried to save her grandson John Paul Massey from an attack by his uncle’s pitbull was today hailed a hero at his inquest.

At an inquest into the death of John Paul Massey Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello said Helen Foulkes had fought “heroically” to save the four-year-old.

Speaking after the hearing John Paul’s mum, Angela McGlynn, told the ECHO: "There's a sense of relief that the final hearing is over and we can now lay him to rest. My mum Helen was a hero, like the coroner said.

"I don't know what I would have done if I’d have been in that situation. She did what she could to save John Paul. I could have lost both my children and my mum if it wasn't for her bravery.”

Liverpool coroner’s court was told Helen, 64, put herself in between John Paul and pitbull Uno as the dog tried to rip into the boy on November 29, 2009.

The hearing heard how John Paul had been staying with his gran in Ash Grove, Wavertree.

Christian Foulkes, the dog’s owner, had joined the Army and though he intended to get rid of the dog it was still living there with another pitbull.

At around midnight Helen Foulkes brought two packets of crisps into the living room, where they had been watching television, giving one to John Paul and one to Uno. Suddenly the dog lunged towards John Paul.

In recording a narrative verdict Liverpool Coroner Andre Rebello said: “The grandmother selflessly and heroically put herself between the dog and John Paul. She protected him as she was being bitten and pulled a bedstead over him to shelter him from the dog attack.

“She tried to get the dog outside but the dog turned and leapt over her, squirming under the bedstead to attack John Paul, inflicting fatal injuries.”

Once the dog was outside Helen tried to revive John Paul but he was taken to Alder Hey by ambulance and pronounced dead.

A firearms officer shot Uno outside the house.

Last year Christian Foulkes was jailed for four months after admitting possessing two pit bulls and breeding them. Gran Helen received a four months suspended sentence for possession of the pitbull.

Police had been criticised for failing to respond to reports of dangerous dogs being bred at the house but Mr Rebello said: “After death Uno was classified as a dangerous dog within the meaning of the Dangerous Dogs Acts 1991. Whether Uno would have been present if the police had investigated is speculative and unknown.”

Angela said: “I have really vivid dreams of John Paul all the time. I give a little kiss to his memory before I go to bed.”